I was e-l-a-t-e-d when I was asked to try out some PrAna gear and share with you, my lovely readers, an exclusive discount code!

Let’s start with the good stuff, your 15% off discount code! WPJCF18

Now, about me and my relationship with PrAna! I moved to Colorado 3 years ago and became an avid rock climber. Obsessed. What that has to do with prAna is that it quickly became the most prominent brand in my closet, not only because of it’s aesthetics, but because it is the best brand I have found to stand up to the demands of body vs. rock!

PrAna is not just for women, either. John loves his Woodman Flannel, and I can’t take off my Diva Long Jacket. It is extremely warm and the perfect length! It is lined by clouds, I am pretty sure.

The hood is perfect at keeping my ears from freezing off too.

Also, you get to look good while preparing to pelt your photographer with a snow ball. I mean, come on, priorities people!

The pants are prAna as well, my favorite for rock climbing. Unfortunately I don’t do a ton of that outside when it’s cold since feeling one’s fingers is important in that particular sport, but they are great for hiking and being active in general. I love them for rock because they don’t get picked and have snags in them after climbing sharp granite or limestone walls.

The are also fantastic for tree napping.

The stitching is solid and I’m digging the sweater ribbing on the sides of the Diva Jacket…

Their logo is subtle and well placed, and the stitching, again, solid on the Woodman’s Flannel.

John is also sporting one of his favorite pair of prAna pants in addition to the flannel.

Since we couldn’t show you outdoor climbing, we took our prAna to the indoor gym! These pants are the best! I wear them almost every time I climb

And John in his favorite climbing pants, which just happen to be… you guessed it, prAna!

The are so flexible yet strong.

If you ever see me climbing and I am not in prAna gear, I may need a neurologic exam. Just saying.

The quality is outstanding, but more importantly, prAna is a sustainable brand and uses organic cotton and recycled fabrics as they aim to help the planet. Read all about that here!

Full Disclosure: I did receive the Diva Jacket and Woodman’s Flannel to add to my already huge, self purchased prAna collection in exchange for sharing this information with you. All opinions are 100% honest and mine! This also has been the perfect segue into migrating a little away from DIY to more outdoor adventures and rock climbing. So HUGE thanks to prAna for what you do to help our planet and for being my go to outdoor gear! I love you!!

We are so excited building things for our new abode! Directly across the street is a lovely, wildflower, rabbit, squirrel and bird abundant park. We’ve decided to rid our lives of cable t.v., which affords us way more extra time than I realized, or care to admit. Instead of vegging out to the news upon awakening, we enjoy our morning coffee on the front porch in our super comfy adirondack set that we built with our own hands! We are forced to be more present and enjoy one another and nature more than ever, but the benefits of minimizing screen time are out of the scope of this article. I just want to talk about awesome adirondack-ness!

This whole set took us a week, a few hours a day or so. We built the exact same set we shared in this DIY Adirondack Set post, so you can find the plan there.

We changed the color scheme. I used Rustoleum Vintage Teal for the table. I found outdoor pillows at Walmart for $5 each that tied everything together!

Here is the first chair finished. Notice all the screw holes we had to fill before painting! I prefer Fast’N Final by DAP.

For the chairs and stools, I used Rustoleum Chalked in Linen White. It took 3 coats, which in my experiences is a lot for chalk paint. All in all, I am happy with the product and will use it again.

Whether it’s shiplap or pallet wood, rustic farmhouse-inspired accents and furnishings are on trend. But before you head out to find expensive aged wood, try this wood shim tutorial instead. You’ll find out how to incorporate that farmhouse signature look without breaking the bank with this simple, inexpensive and removable DIY for any bookcase.

You’ll only need one tool, a handful of materials and a couple of hours to elevate a plain bookcase into something so much more. Stacked alternating wood shims provide the texture, and a plywood base gives you the option to attach the panels using tape, making this DIY removable and commitment-free.

Supplies

For this project, you’ll need:

A bookcase (We choose one in a modern style, but you can use one that matches your home’s decor)

(1) 1/4”x 2 x 4 sanded plywood sheet

2-4 packages of 15” cedar shims

Wood glue

Grey tone wood stain

Paintbrush

Mounting tape

Jigsaw

C-clamps

Tape measure

Pencil

Step One: Pick Up a Modern Bookcase

Finding the right bookcase for this project is all about maintaining visual balance. The clean, modern shape of this bookcase is the perfect backdrop to showcase the natural, rustic quality of the cedar shims.

Since this project involves attaching wood panels to your bookcase, you’ll want to make sure that the bookcase you buy can support the amount of wood you want to add without becoming too heavy. It helps to start out with a lightweight bookcase and limit the wood shims to just the back panels of the bookshelf. Assemble your bookcase and measure the size of the space you want to cover using your tape measure.

Step Two: Cut the Wood to Size

Take that measurement and trace it onto the plywood sheet twice. Cut out both rectangles using the jigsaw and set aside.

Next, you’ll need to determine the pattern you want for the wood shim accent panels. You can choose a classic brick pattern, basket weaving pattern or a simple alternating stacked pattern. I chose the latter because it followed the lines of the bookcase and provided a higher-quality finish. Mark and cut each cedar shim to match the width of the cut plywood rectangles. You’ll want to alternate thick and thin sides when stacking to maximize the play on texture and the farmhouse feel. You may need to cut the last wood shim lengthways to finish out the space. Go slow when cutting with the jigsaw to reduce any wood splitting or chipping.

Step Three: Glue and Stain

Once you cut all of your wood shims, you can begin adhering them to the cut plywood pieces. Brush a light coating of wood glue onto the back of the shims and press them down onto the wood backing. Be sure to immediately clean up any excess glue that leaks out, as it can affect how the wood stain reacts with the wood. Clamp another piece of wood to the top of the wood panel to provide consistent, even pressure while the glue dries overnight. An optional improvement is to use small finishing nails to secure the wood shims to the plywood base.

The next day, you can start applying the wood stain to the wood panels in light, even coats. Let the stain sit and penetrate the wood for a few minutes before wiping up the excess stain. I used about two coats to achieve my look. Allowing some of the natural cedar tones to show underneath will give the wood that authentic farmhouse quality. The stain will need to dry for a few hours before you can resume handling.

Step Four: Attach the Accent Panels

Cut several strips of mounting tape and apply them directly to the bookcase section where the wood panels will sit. Pop in your wood panels and press firmly for a few minutes to ensure a tight bond. Add a few books or decor items, and your farmhouse-inspired bookcase is done!

Mateo Londono is a longtime contributor to the Krrb blog who also writes for The Home Depot. He likes to create DIY projects and provide step-by-step instructions like he did in this article. To find a bookcase that you can add your own personal touch to, visit The Home Depot to see their selection of bookcases.

Add a personal touch to your birthday party decor, with this simple, quick and inexpensive DIY balloon photo display! This project can be translated to fit any celebration or holiday. Use photos of the happy couple for a golden anniversary celebration, or for wedding reception decor. Here you will see adult female birthday party decor, but use your imagination. The possibilities are endless, especially if you have a Balloon Time Helium Tank, allowing you to bring whimsy anytime, anywhere! Let’s get this party started…

For this project, you will need the following supplies:

Balloon Time Helium Tank

Balloons in your color choice

Ribbon to tie off balloons

Photos to display

Glue dots or adhesive of your choice

To create your own balloon photo display, follow these instructions:

Begin by printing off your favorite photos to go with the occasion. I edited photos in Photoshop to give them a black and white, framed Instagram type feel. I created a file sized to 8.5 x 11 inches and pulled each edited photo to the new file. Then I took them to my local big box office supply store and had them print 2 copies of the file on white card stock. It was $1.40 total! Cut them out and set them aside. You have 2 prints of each photo.

Simply push down on the nozzle to inflate the balloon! So simple to use and convenient to have on hand for whimsical decor, any time.

Tie a knot in the balloon and attach ribbon to each balloon. Now you can use glue dots to adhere photos to the ribbon. Sandwich the ribbon between the 2 copies of each photo so that when the ribbon twirls with balloon movement, there won’t be a blank side.

That is it! Go grab a Balloon Time Helium Tank and show us what unique balloon displays you can create!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Balloon Time. The opinions and text are all mine.

As functional as it is chic, this blanket stand can hold several blankets while only taking up minimal floor space. The fun color block pattern adds some visual interest to your walls, and depending on the blankets, you can create a variety of interchangeable styles for your living room. Lean it against the wall by your couch for easy access to blankets on movie night and when the weather is warm, the blanket stand’s slim design stays out of the way.

Supplies:

Two 1 ½“ x 5’ pine handrails

Four ¾” x 14” wood dowels

Miter saw

Electric drill

¾” Forstner drill bit

Orbital sander

Sanding sheets (220 grit)

Wood glue

Four strap (or trigger) clamps

Rubber mallet

Paint and/or wood stain

Painter’s tape

Blankets!

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

This project calls for a slim ladder profile with a modern, clean look. Because of this, I went with round wood stock and dowels, as they are lightweight but still sturdy enough to support the weight of a few blankets. Handrails work perfectly for the sides of the ladder because they have a flat side that can butt up against the wall without rolling.

Step 2: Cut the Handrails to Size

Using a miter saw, cut the two pieces of handrail material down to five feet in length, and the dowels, which will serve as the ladder rungs, into 14 inch pieces. To help keep the blanket stand propped up against the wall at the right angle, miter the bottom end of both handrails.

Step 3: Sand and Prep

A quick sanding with an orbital sander will clean up any splintering on the ends and prepare the wood for paint and stain.

Step 4: Drill the Holes for the Rungs

To make sure the holes are even, clamp the handrails together and mark out the placement for the ladder rungs. Leave enough space between the ladder rungs so that the blankets can fit. Once you have the placement marked, use a ¾-inch forstner bit to drill one inch into the handrails on both pieces. A forstner bit drills neat-flat bottom holes that are more precise than what you can usually accomplish with your standard drill bits or spade bits. The flat bottom holes will allow the dowels to fit securely and ensure the ladder rungs maintain equal length. Use some scrap sandpaper to clean out the holes and remove any stray wood curls.

Step 5: Assemble the dowels
Squeeze some wood glue into the drilled holes and use a rubber mallet to gently tap the dowels into place. Repeat the process for the other handrail to bring both sides of the ladder together.

Step 6: Let the Rungs Set
To ensure a strong glue bond, use 4 flexible strap clamps (or adjustable trigger clamps) to place pressure on the joints. Clean up any excess glue and leave the clamps on until the glue dries, usually eight to 24 hours.

Step 7: Apply the Color Block
Now that your ladder is constructed, you can begin adding a fun color block pattern. I went with a combination of finishes that draws your eye up, going from a dark matte grey, into a glossy green, into a light white stain that shows off the wood grain. Use paint-block painter’s tape to keep your paint and stain edges clean and straight.

Step 8: Find the Perfect Spot, and Enjoy!
Lean the blanket stand up against the wall and place your blankets on the ladder rungs. Have fun experimenting with different colors, textures and patterns to see what works best in your space!

Mateo Londono is an avid DIYer and vegan cook who has a passion for improving and personalizing homes with cool projects. Mateo and this DIY are featured here on the TenX Homes site, where you can find out more about creating your own unique space. You can also visit The Home Depot to find other wall decor accents to make your home your own.

For many of us, the New Year is a perfect time for a reevaluating and refreshing our homes. A huge part of that is aesthetically changing our environments to maintain a feeling of peaceful rejuvenation – maybe painting the walls a new color and adding new accents to change the ambiance. Other ways to maintain a healthy living space are less… photogenic and stylish maybe, but are equally or more essential to the health of our homes and their inhabitants.

It is something we don’t think about until it becomes a clear and present issue, but we should never underestimate the importance of keeping our drains clear! Fortunately, clogs don’t stand a chance against Liquid-Plumr

Many of us don’t know that the most common causes of clogs are soap scum, grease, and hair (including pet hair)!
We all get household clogs, and you should feel empowered to do it yourself. All you need to skip calling the plumber is proper
maintenance and the right products and tools on hand. You can learn to keep your drains running at their full capacity, saving time and money, and feeling pretty awesome about your abilities!
Did you know that Liquid-Plumr has been keeping pipes clear and clean for more than 35 years?
Their products are safe for all septic systems and pipes types, including PVC, plastic,
copper, and old pipes. So regardless of your situation, Liquid-Plumr will always be the right choice!

Did you know about Liquid-Plumr Full Clog Destroyer™
With this product, you can feel free to put away the plunger. This thick gel is formulated to cut through
standing water and works double duty to help dissolve tough clogs and prevent new
ones from forming. It is quite effective on low flow drains, and with regular monthly use can keep your plumbing flowing freely!

Other ways we plan to maintain our home and costs this year are to cut down on the heat bill by using the fireplace more. It is cozy, and makes for a great beagle photo backdrop, don’t you think?

We also plan to replace shower curtains with the prior year’s buildup of soap scum, go through our closets and donate things we haven’t worn for a year, cleaning windows to freshen things up, and maybe even give the front door a makeover with a new paint color.

What are your plans for Refreshing in 2017?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Liquid-Plumr. The opinions and text are all mine.

A foraging trip outdoors starts the holidays off right. It’s a sure-fire way to pick some holiday spirit, and an even better way to save your money for gifts for your loved ones rather than spending it on decor.

Combine your store-bought sparkle with nature’s bounty for beautiful decorations that don’t break the bank. Low- to no-cost natural elements are the perfect addition to your decoration collection for decorating the mantle, tabletop and tree.

Turn collecting natural goodies into a scavenger hunt with the kids. Gather various sizes of pinecones, acorns, bare branches, evergreens and berries. If you don’t have any evergreens outside, you can stop anywhere fresh Christmas trees are sold and get the discarded lower branches for a low cost, or possibly for free. These work just fine to cut up for decorations. Finally, add in goodies from the grocery store like apples, popcorn, cranberries or citrus fruits. Now you’ve got the recipe for a pretty holiday home. It’s time to start decorating!

Nature on Display

Start with what you already own. Clear vases or jars, cake stands, baskets and plates turn into decorations with a bit of creativity.

Create an ornament display that is sure to become a focal point. Collect bare branches and dig into your ornament collection. Tying the baubles on bare limbs makes them stand out and really come to life. Do something as simple as these red balls on one branch, or collect several branches to place in a row of jars. You could even get a large multi-limbed branch to stand in a large floor vase.

You can also fill glass containers with pinecones and acorns. Add a bit of glam by dusting them with glitter or fake snow. Try tucking a few tiny ornaments in the glass container, too—look for a really interesting one to highlight, such as a tiny pair of ice skates or a darling little Santa.

Holiday Arrangement

Create a floral-shop worthy display with a combination of your natural found items and produce. This wonderfully scented decoration is easy to make. Gather up apples, oranges, whole cloves, pinecones and greenery. Select a container—a basket or bowl will work.

Begin by pushing the cloves into the oranges in any pattern you like. If your basket or bowl is very deep, stuff the bottom of it with some balls of paper. First, set in your oranges, toward the center. Arrange pinecones and apples around the oranges. Cut small pieces of greenery and tuck them in between the fruit to hide gaps or any paper that shows. Finish by accenting here and there with a bit of something bright. You can add a few tiny ornaments, colorful cranberries, sprigs of holly or a dusting of fake snow.

Tabletop Centerpiece

A low centerpiece is just the ticket for holiday dinners because you want to be able to see over it and enjoy conversations with family and friends. You can make a beautiful, simple one with your natural collection and some shiny ornament balls.

Collect pinecones, fall leaves, greenery, ornaments and a bit of paint. Check your paint stash for holiday shades of gold, silver, white, copper or red. Choose one you think compliments your ornaments. Paint the fall leaves and a few pinecones and allow the paint to dry. Leave some of the pinecones natural.

Use a flat plate or tray to hold your centerpiece. Snip evergreens in small pieces and arrange flat to cover the plate or tray. Arrange large pinecones in the center and then add the ornaments to the plate. Tuck tiny pinecones and the painted leaves around the large cones and balls.

Let It Shine

Holiday parties and family gatherings are a celebration and celebrations call for candles. Natural elements can come into play with candles. Here are a few ideas:

Place a few cranberries and snips of greenery in a jar. Add water and drop a floating candle in the top. Add glamour by nestling them in some shiny bead garland or silvery icicles.

Place fresh cranberries in a tall vase. Nestle a candle into the berries. Tie a pretty ribbon around the vase.

Arrange three to five tiny votive candles on a plate with a rim. Surround them with fresh cranberries, whole nuts and acorns.

Strings of Fun

Generations of families have enjoyed stringing popcorn on thread to decorate their tree. While you can certainly do just popcorn, it’s fun to give it a glamourous touch, like adding shiny gold jingle bells or a small ornament every so often. Don’t stop with just popcorn – you can string cranberries and even gummy candies!

After the holidays are over, don’t toss out the strings of popcorn and berries. Hang them on bushes in the yard and enjoy watching the birds have a winter feast.

This post has been a long time coming. At this point, I can’t even recall what inspired me to smash pennies and turn them into jewelry, but something did and here we are. I will walk you through the interesting, not entirely legal process I used. Please note that in no way am I encouraging anyone to break the law, or to go anywhere near railroad tracks. The Midnight Rider controversy is no joke. While cute, this jewelry is not worth dying for, so be smart.

TUTORIAL:

This is the sketchy part. SBLC assumes no responsibility for any injuries that may occur. That said, this is also the super fun part. Tape the coins to the railroad track as shown in the photo. Not taping them just means searching needlessly after the train has passed, since they get thrown from their original location during the process. The tape keeps them in place.

This is what y0u will have when you retrieve your now flattened pennies. Flat, but yucky, right? No problem. To clean the little guys, pour the vinegar into the bowl and stir in salt. Put about 5 pennies into the solution and let them soak for about 10 seconds. Use a toothbrush and running water to remove debris and rinse clean.

They don’t have to be perfect.

Emboss your pennies and die cut into jewelry shapes. Here i cut the flattened and embossed pennies into circles and attached Vintaj Vogue Stamping Blanks Triangle 14mm using a rivet. Just hole punch the penny circles, insert rivet through triangle and circle, set with eyelet setter and attach jump ring and ear wires. Done!

For this pendant, I die cut a ring with the Sizzix butterfly rings die – a favorite die of mine. I cut a triangle with another embossed flattened penny and painted it using vintaj patina paints for metal. Once the paint was dry, I applied Magic Glos UV Resin, by Lisa Pavelka. I love the domed resin look. You can put this in direct sunlight to cure, or cure it in 10 minutes using Lisa Pavelka’s UV light. I went the 10 minute route! It’s been awhile since I used that stuff, and I forgot how fun it is.

This piece is comprised of a Vintaj metal blank (the background circle) and a flattened penny triangle that I painted with Vintaj Patina. I didn’t seal it. I enjoy the simplicity of the circle/triangle, and love the colors together. After applying the paint, go over the triangle lightly with medium grit sand paper to reveal the raised areas created by embossing previously.

It has been way too long since I made and shared a DIY wreath project with you all. That is why I am a super stoked about today’s simple, cheap tutorial – a gorgeous gilded wreath to adorn your front door. You are going to need just a few supplies and an hour to create your very own. Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES:

Plastic or foam pumpkins and gourds (I got mine for 50% off at Michaels)

Begin by laying out your pumpkins on the drop cloth. This project is best done outside since you will be spray painting.

Spray pumpkins per instructions on can. Make sure you are using paint that has primer in it. If not, you will need to prime the pieces first. I love Krylon Dual because it has paint and primer in one. It is my go to product for spray painting.

Now for the wreath form. I showed you how to make your own from cardboard in this DIY Poinsettia Wreath tutorial. For this project, I wrapped the cardboard wreath form in duct tape for durability since I planned to hang the wreath outdoors.

Before attaching the painted, dry pumpkins, place the ribbon around the wreath. Hot glue it into place, then begin attaching pumpkins.

It’s as easy as that!

TIP: For more cohesiveness, once all the pumpkins are in place, use the same spray paint to spray the wreath form where it is visible in the spaces.

It is one of the best things about fall and the holiday season, a great source of potassium and Vitamin A, and is over 90% water. What is it, you ask? We are talking about pumpkin! Today we are sharing over 50 tasty pumpkin recipes for you to enjoy. You will see pumpkin soup, scones and everything in between. If we missed your favorite pumpkin recipe, leave us a link in the comments so we can share your delicious creation!